Maltron. The Worlds Best Ergonomic Keyboards.

A major cause of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is the prolonged and repetitive hand movements involved in computer keyboard use. Given the amount of time spent by most people at their computer typing it is no wonder that RSI is an issue of great concern in the workplace. The Victorian WorkCover Chief Executive reported in recent years that soft tissue and muscle injuries such as RSI accounted for 62% of all WorkCover claims. See our earlier blog for more statistics regarding the prevalence of RSI.

The design of many keyboards tends to create or exacerbate the problem. Read on to find out about the best hand positions to prevent or help manage RSI, and what you need to do to ensure you minimise your chances of getting this painful and disabling condition.

In the United Kingdom, where the Maltron keyboard originated over 25 years ago, much research has been undertaken on Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and the advantages of the Maltron keyboard in helping to prevent and manage this condition. Unfortunately similar research has not been conducted in Australia, but we hope in the future it will be. Particularly when the figures are so alarming and the benefits of Maltron keyboards so striking.

The School of Health organisation in Chicago in the USA has recently shown their support for the Maltron Single Handed keyboard by placing a large order for keyboards for people who only have functionality in one hand (ordering both left and right handed keyboards).

These keyboards are designed and shaped to provide the best ergonomic arrangement of keys to give strain free five-digit operation. The letter layout is arranged to minimise successive use of a single finger, which would considerably slow typing pace.Continue reading →

Strain injuries at work, the most common being Repetitive Strain Injury are caused by excessive force being imposed on muscles, tendons, joints and the nervous system by some working practices (such as typing). When the strain is of short duration accompanied by adequate rest it generally does not cause significant damage. However, with work practices being increasingly sedentary and with the overwhelming majority of jobs requiring long periods of keyboard use, this can result in very frequent exertions of forced static postures which can result in a loss of capacity in the affected limbs.

The three main factors that can lead to strain injuries include:

FORCE – the application of excessive manual force

FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF MOVEMENT – including rates of working which are intense and repetitive

Custom designed Maltron keyboards are the most versatile keyboards in the world, catering to the needs of the everyday user wanting to minimise the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury, to people who have minimal or no use of their upper limbs.

Australia ranks 21st out of 29 OECD countries in the provision of employment opportunities for those with a disability and the proportion of disabled Australians who live in poverty, 45%, is double the OECD average. Unemployment rates for PWD within Australia are also double the rate of people without disabilities/serious health problems.

There are many reasons why an individual may have limited or no use of one hand. The main causes are: diabetes, vascular disease, trauma (e.g. an industrial accident), congenital conditions affecting the musculo-skeletal or nervous system and infections (such as sepsis and osteomyelitis). It is estimated that there are at least 35,000 persons with amputations within Australia, which is likely to be an underestimate given that it is based on data gathered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1993. Statistics from the US show that the most common amputation is partial hand (one or more fingers) and the next most common is loss of an arm.

The Design of Everyday Things (formerly entitled The Psychology of Everyday Things) by Donald Norman discusses the issue of design and functionality of everyday objects and the frustration – and worse – that can arise when objects are ill-designed and not user-friendly.

From taps and doors to computers and aeroplane cockpits, Norman (2002) provides examples of poorly designed objects and the impact on the user; ranging from mere annoyance to tragic injury and even death.

One of the products he discusses is the QWERTY (also known as Sholes) keyboard, the standard keyboard used with most computers. He outlines the deficiencies of the keyboard and its inappropriateness in the modern world, requiring faster keying speeds and designs that are comfortable for the hands and wrists.

87% of those 4 million people have a specific limitation or restriction; that is, an impairment restricting their ability to perform communication, mobility or self-care activities, or a restriction affecting employment or schooling.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) (also known as repetitive stress injury, occupational overuse syndrome and regional musculoskeletal disorder) is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous system caused by prolonged repetitive hand movements or sustained or awkward positions, such as those involved in computer, mouse and keyboard use.